Remy Schneier is the Head of Human Resources at P.volve LLC.
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In today’s business landscape, there are generally two types of companies — startups and more established corporate institutions. If you have worked in both, you can attest to the vast differences between the environments. If you have only worked in one, you might not know what to expect from the other. Given that, how can job seekers make the right decision when looking to make the next step in their career, and how do they know what to expect when entering into either of those environments?
Let’s take a closer look.
In a corporate, more established business environment, there is a sense of professionalism and etiquette that is palpable. Generally, you are immediately taught all of the etiquette that is expected of employees. This starts with how you should approach coworkers, how and when to ask questions, how to dress, how to take notes, what time to come and go from the office and more. Most of the time, these kinds of offices are set up for concentrated work and there is less of a focus on socializing.
In startup culture, there is generally a more relaxed vibe. The dress is more casual, the times to come and go can vary, there are no set rules on who you can approach or when to say hello to certain people. There is usually more free-flowing energy to figure out how to interact by observing others. Oftentimes, there is accessibility to snacks, drinks and spaces that encourage socializing and collaboration. That isn't to say that people aren't working hard, especially at unconventional hours. The fast-moving business model of many startups requires a level of dedication that can't always be found in more conventional corporate office environments. If you are a person who craves structure, then a corporate environment might be best for you. If you are more fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants when it comes to life in general, a startup environment might be where you thrive.
When you start your career in a corporate environment, you are generally provided guidelines of how to interact with the business and others, which creates a set of standards that can help develop you into a mature businessperson. Overall, starting in a corporate environment and then moving to a startup is usually a better experience for most people. Understanding more rigid rules and how to act professionally can assist you in your next experience, whether that be in a corporate or startup environment.
If you start your career in a startup, you might find that every startup has its own set of rules and that interactions are more dependent upon the company. If you begin your career in a startup environment, moving into a corporate space can be a huge learning curve and you might feel a bit like a fish out of water. If that is the case, you should always ask someone in human resources or your manager for an overview of how employees are expected to work and act. This can help teach you how to interact in the environment and what is expected.
In both cases, it is good to observe, listen and learn from those around you in order to properly interact with others. Every company will be slightly different; however, as a businessperson, there are always certain boundaries and standards that you should hold yourself to in order to set yourself up for success, which is dependent upon the type of business person that you would like to be.
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